Rating: 




Artemis Fresh Mix Dry Dog Food gets the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
The Artemis Fresh Mix brand includes eight kibbles.
Since we could not locate AAFCO nutritional adequacy statements for these products on the Artemis website, we’re unable to report life stage recommendations.
- Artemis Fresh Mix Adult
- Artemis Fresh Mix Small Breed Adult
- Artemis Fresh Mix Small Breed Puppy
- Artemis Fresh Mix Small Breed Senior
- Artemis Fresh Mix Maximal Dog (5 stars)
- Artemis Fresh Mix Medium/Large Breed Puppy
- Artemis Fresh Mix Weight Management (3 stars)
- Artemis Fresh Mix Medium/Large Breed Senior (3 stars)
Artemis Fresh Mix Small Breed Adult was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Artemis Fresh Mix Small Breed Adult
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, turkey, fish meal, barley, brown rice, rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), oatmeal, millet, potatoes, egg product, tomato pomace, duck, salmon, flaxseed, flavor enhancer, salmon oil (a source of dha), choline chloride, dried chicory root, dried skim milk, kelp, carrots, apples, tomatoes, blueberries, spinach, cranberries, rosemary extract, parsley flake, pea powder, green tea extract, barley grass extract, l-carnitine, Enterococcus faecieum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Saccharomyces cerevesiae fermentation solubles, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D supplement, folic acid
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.3%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 25% | 15% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 28% | 17% | 48% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 24% | 35% | 41% |
The first ingredient in this product lists chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably occupy a lower position on the list.
Which brings us to chicken meal… the second and (most likely) the predominant meat ingredient in this dog food.
Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third ingredient is turkey. Like chicken, turkey consists mostly of water. So, it is subject to the same moisture loss after cooking. After processing, this item would occupy a lower relative position on the list.
The fourth item is fish meal. Like chicken meal, fish meal can be considered another protein-rich meat concentrate.
Unfortunately, this particular item is anonymous. The term “fish” does little to adequately describe this ingredient.
Fish meal is commonly made from the by-products of commercial fish operations.
We are pleased to note that, unlike many fish meals, this particular item appears1 to be ethoxyquin-free.
The fifth ingredient lists barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. Unlike grains with a higher glycemic index (like rice), barley can help support stable blood sugar levels in dogs.
The sixth item lists brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
The seventh ingredient mentions rice. Is this whole grain rice, brown rice or white rice? Since the word “rice” doesn’t tell us much, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this item.
The eighth ingredient includes chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Though it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is a quality ingredient.
The ninth ingredient is oatmeal… a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, fiber and is also (unlike many other grains) gluten-free.
The tenth ingredient is millet… gluten-free grains harvested from certain seed grasses. Millet is hypoallergenic and naturally rich in B-vitamins and fiber… as well as other essential minerals.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.
With three notable exceptions…
First, tomato pomace is a controversial ingredient… a by-product left after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.
Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content… while others scorn it as an inexpensive pet food filler.
Just the same, there’s probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.
Next, the manufacturer appears to have applied friendly bacteria to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.
And lastly, we also note this dog food contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Artemis Fresh Mix Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Artemis Fresh Mix appears to be an above-average dry dog food.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 28%, a fat level of 17% and estimated carbohydrates of about 48%.
Due to their apparent lower meat content, we have downgraded the ratings of the Weight Management and Medium/Large Breed Senior formulas to just three stars.
Excluding the higher rated “Maximal Dog” and the lower rated foods mentioned in the previous paragraph, the remaing group features an average protein content of 28% and a mean fat level of 16%.
Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 48% for the overall product line.
Average protein. Average fat. And average carbohydrates when compared to a typical dry dog food.
With no sign of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Artemis Fresh Mix dry dog food is a grain-based kibble using a moderate amount of chicken or lamb meals as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a wet food from the same company may wish to visit our review of Artemis Fresh Mix canned dog food.
A Final Word
This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
03/25/2010 Original review
10/25/2010 Review updated
10/25/2010 Last Update
- Artemis Customer Service, 10/25/2010 ↩
